A/N: Last chapter folks. Thanks for sticking with me and I hope you enjoy this final chapter. Song for this chapter is "Eyes" by Rogue Wave. Link is in my profile. Thanks for reading! xoxo

Three months later…

I'm bringing in my last box of things to Eric's—excuse me—our condo. It's nothing but my CDs and DVDs which I must have forgotten about. I was in such a hurry to move into Eric's place that I completely forgot about the three months I had left on my lease. My landlord was sad to see me go but she understood. I used the time to sort through all of my stuff and store there the things I couldn't decide what to do with. Also, it was a crafty way to throw Bill of my trail. He kept showing up at my office, dropping by my apartment looking for me, and appearing out of nowhere while I was out. I had to eventually get a restraining order against him. That was of course, after Bill decided to run his face into Eric's fist—twice. At least, that's how the police report reads. That was a fine day. Eric and I were walking home together as usual. Bill thought it would be funny to sneak up behind us and grab my arm. I screamed and Eric reacted the way any good boyfriend would. He was protecting me and Bill learned to never do something so stupid again.

It was pretty easy for me to get the R.O. and I was happy about that. I knew I couldn't deliver it to him myself, but I wanted to see the look on his douchetastic face as Bill got the slip of paper. I called in a few favors to find out when the papers would be delivered and made sure to be in the area when it happened. I tucked my hair under a baseball cap, threw on a pair of shades and a jacket to hide my shape as much as possible. I didn't slow down long enough for him to notice me, but I got a really good look at him. And boy was it something to see. He had two black eyes and they were so bruised he looked like he was squinting. I suppressed a laugh as I walked by the server handing over the restraining order, and didn't stand around to wait to hear his response. He was so in my past that I had no time to waste on his bullshit anymore. If he wanted to talk to me after that, he could talk to my lawyer. Or Eric.

I shake myself from my reverie as I drop my box onto the floor in the living room. Tina is still where I left her earlier—curled up on the sofa. I call out for Eric but he doesn't answer. I know he's around because he said he'd wait for me to get back from my place. I wanted the fresh air and time alone to think a bit. My life is taking on a new path and I needed to be sure it's what I want. I know I want Eric and I know I want to move in with him, but the rest that comes along with it, scares me a bit. I never thought about my future with Bill much and I've done nothing but think about Eric and I becoming each other's forever. Marriage, kids, and everything in between. Waking up next to him is the most exciting part of my day. Forget that I get to see him at work and come home to him. Just knowing he's always there makes me feel complete. I call out for him again and this time he answers.

"I'm in the kitchen."

I walk toward his voice and find something I never thought I'd ever see. He's at the stove, cooking, in an apron. And nothing else. That perfect ass of his is on display and I swear I get weak in the knees just standing there watching him. Then he turns to face me and that does me in. He's wearing his glasses. His hair falls down around his face framing them and he licks his lips before speaking.

"Hey. See something you like?"

I can only nod.

"Did you get everything you needed from your apartment?"

Another nod.

"No plans for the rest of the day then?"

I clear my throat and swallow slowly. "No."

"Good," he says with a smile. But not just any smile. A predatory, panty dropping, moisture producing smile.

I finally gain my voice and ask what he's cooking.

"I'm melting chocolate." He lifts a bowl from the pot on the stove and continues stirring it.

I watch as the muscles flex under his skin with each movement. The slight flicker of his wrist, the tension in his hand on the spoon, the jerk of his shoulder… it's all like a well orchestrated symphony playing just for me.

"Chocolate." Ah… now I smell it. "I didn't know you baked, too."

"Oh, this isn't for baking. I have something else in mind."

He turns to face me and lifts an eyebrow suggestively. Yup, I'm a goner. The bare ass, the glasses and now the eyebrow… He crooks a finger, beckoning me to him. I move slowly as it's as fast as my feet will allow. For some reason they don't want to move. I'm not hesitant, just not in control of my faculties. As I walk toward him, I notice the front of his apron for the first time. It has a drawing of a male's body—six pack abs, red bikini briefs, muscular legs. I giggle and he looks down, shaking his head.

"I thought you would like this. Don't you think red is my color?" He wiggles his hips and I lick my lips.

"I like. Me likey very much." Complete sentences elude me.

"How much do you like?"

"Enough to not care what you're going to do with that chocolate, as long as the apron comes off while you're doing it."

He laughs—a long and throaty sound escaping his mouth. A shiver runs down my spine and I need to be in his arms.

"Come closer, Sookie. I won't bite… until you ask me to."

I shuffle my feet a few more steps to get closer to him. He reaches out to me and pulls me into his chest. I hadn't noticed before, but he's dipped his finger into the chocolate. He holds it out to me and I suck it off the digit while holding his gaze. Then he takes my hand and dips one of my fingers into the chocolate. Holding my hand in front of him, we watch as the chocolate drips down my finger. He licks his lips before pulling my finger to his mouth. His tongue starts at the base of my finger and removes the trail of sweetness on his way to my fingertip. He pauses before sucking my finger into his mouth, twirling his tongue around it and nibbling a bit. My mouth falls open and I want to participate in the action too. He pulls me closer, his hands going to either side of my face. We stand in limbo; the anticipation of what's to come buzzing in the air.

He smiles, leans his head to the side and runs his tongue along my bottom lip. His eyes light up as he looks down at my lips, brushing a whisper of a kiss across them. He kisses me softly at first, increasing the pressure against my lips as he presses his body into mine. I can feel how much he's enjoying this and I can only hope he knows how much I am as well. I reach my hands around him, giving his ass a squeeze. What? He left it exposed. He jumps a little and returns the favor. I moan into his mouth as he parts his lips and our tongues meet. He tastes like chocolate and I tell him as much. Our lips never separate as we whisper sweet nothings to one another. Just the feel of him in my arms is enough to prove to me I'm definitely making the right choice. How could I have ever doubted myself?

"Now as for what I have planned… you need to strip. I think we should go to the bedroom though because this might get a little messy."

I simply nod and am happy I decided on a sundress today. I easily slip it over my head, leaving my bra and panties for Eric to remove. He grabs the bowl of chocolate and what looks like a small paint brush. Hmmm…

"I didn't take you for an artist, Mr. Northman."

"Oh, my sweet, Sookie. I'm not an artist, but I don't need to be for what I have planned."

We make our way back to the bedroom and Eric tosses me to the bed. His thumbs roll up my thighs as he hooks them into the waistband of my panties. With little effort, he removes them, tossing them to the floor. His hands trace along my sides as he works his way around to my back. With a flick of his wrist, my bra is undone and he slides it off my shoulders. Tossing it to the side he kisses me breathless and makes me promise to lie completely still while he "works." I squeal as the first brush stroke crosses my stomach. It tickles as the fibers are soft to the touch. He dips the brush into the chocolate and begins to paint me. He starts at my clavicle, circles my breasts avoiding the nipple, and draws a line straight down my side. He puts the brush down on the table with the bowl and moves over me on the bed.

"Now for the real fun to begin…"

Oh and what fun we have. He removes each bit of chocolate with his tongue, only to replace it with more as he gets a bit liberal with his brush strokes. He gets behind my knee, my inner thighs, the curve of my neck, my elbow, and my toes. I certainly didn't want him to stop but he ran out of chocolate.

A sticky shower and two hours of mind-blowing sex later, we lay in bed talking about the future. I couldn't have been happier.

"So, I was thinking we could eventually buy a place with a yard. I'm sure Tina wouldn't mind having a brother, would she? Maybe a little puppy to keep her company?"

"Ah… I'm sure she'd be okay with that. I'd love a place with a yard. We could sit outside and have coffee, or breakfast and just watch the clouds go by."

"Or make love on the patio under the stars."

"Or that. Yes, that sounds good too." I giggle as he tickles my sides.

"So, I need to ask you something."

"Okay." I sit up bracing myself on my elbows so I can see him better.

"Maybe it should wait until later. I'll just wait."

"No, no! Ask me now. Don't tease me!"

"Okay, okay. Hang on a second. I need to um…" He climbs out of the bed and grabs a pair of sleep pants. Sliding them on, he hops over to his dresser and opens a small drawer. He takes something out of it but I'm not sure what as he hides it upon retrieving it.

"Close your eyes, lover."

"Why?"

"Because you'll spoil the surprise. Just close them. It won't be but a second, I promise."

I close my eyes and hear him cross the room.

"Okay. Open them."

He's kneeling in front of the bed, on my side, holding a tiny blue box.

A tiny blue box.

Kneeling.

Holy shit!

He pushes his glasses up the bridge of his nose. "Sookie Stackhouse, I know we haven't known each other all of our lives but I would like to get to know you for the rest of my life. When I look in your eyes, I see love, trust, forever. I want that with you. I want all of it and more. Will you make me the happiest man in the world by becoming my wife?"

He opens the box and it's the most beautiful ring I think I've ever seen. The main stone is cushion cut with diamonds surrounding it. The platinum band is half lined with diamonds. It's just… it's so classic looking. It's perfect. Absolutely perfect. Just like him.

I don't even have to think about it as I nod emphatically. "YES! Yes, Eric! Yes. Oh my gosh! Why didn't you… when did you…?"

"Honestly, a few months ago. I knew I wanted you to be mine forever then, but I didn't want to rush things. I wanted to be sure you felt the same way. I needed to know."

"I do want you forever. I want the house, the dog, kids. You do want kids, right?"

"Of course, that goes without saying. I want it all with you, every day, always." He slides the ring onto my finger and I'm not sure how he does it because my hand won't stop shaking. "Why so nervous, my love? This is the easy part. It's the rest that gives us a challenge." He smiles.

"Oh, I'm not so worried about that. Because no matter what, as long as you're with me, I'll be just fine."

XXX

A/N: Sookie's ring - http:/www(dot)tiffany(dot)?GroupSku=GRP10014&selectedSku=18895471#f+0/1008/2004/3001/0/2004